IUPAC Polymer-Common plastics and rubbers

POLYMER DIVISION

COMMON PLASTICS and SYNTHETIC RUBBERS

IUPAC Project 2021-012-2-400Personal Protective Equipment Disposal for the Future

Start

Click on each card to find out about the polymer or rubber

POLYAMIDE (PA)

POLYPROPYLENE (PP)

POLYSTYRENE (PS)

POLYETHYLENE (PE)

POLYTETRAFLUOROETHANE (PTFE)

POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET)

POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC)

POLYURETHANE (PU)

POLY(cis-1,4-isoprene) (NR)

Phenol-formaldehyde resins

POLY(STYRENE-co-BUTADIENE) (SBR)

POLY(L-LACTID) ACID

POLYCARBONATE (PC)

POLYMETHYLMETHACRYLATE (PMMA)

POLYCHLOROPRENE (CR)

POLY(ACRYLONITRILE-CO-BUTADIENE) (NBR)

POLYETHYLENE (PE)

poly(methylene)

Polyethylene comes in many different forms, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). It is used in plastic bags, bottles, plastic films, piping and toys. Discovered in 1898, it is the most used plastic worldwide!

BACK

POLYPROPYLENE (PP)

poly(1-methylethylene)

Polypropylene is particularly resistant to heat, physical damage and corrosion. As a result, it is commonly used in food containers, rugs and carpets, ropes, plastic furniture, and piping. It is also used to make items for medical or laboratory use. We have been using this plastic since 1951 and since then, only around 1% of all the PP is actually recycled!

BACK

POLYSTYRENE (PS)

poly(1-phenylethylene)

Polystyrene is one of the most common plastics. It is used in its solid form for the manufacture of plastic cutlery, CD cases and disposable razors, while as a foam it is used in packaging materials, building insulation and containers for food and drink. It was first discovered in 1839. It's a very resistant plastic, with a lifespan of up to 1000 years!

BACK

POLYAMIDE (PA)

poly(azanediyladipoylazanediylhexane-1,6-diyl)

Polyamide, also known as nylon, actually comprises a family of polymers (the structure of nylon 6.6 shown here). Originally, it was intended to replace synthetic silk for military applications such as parachutes. Today it is used in clothing, guitar strings and fishing lines. Polyamides were first synthesized in 1935, they can be degraded by water, and its carbon footprint is smaller than wool!

BACK

POLYURETHANE (PU)

poly(oxyethyleneoxycarbonylazanediyl-1,4-phenylenemethylene-1,4-phenyleneazanediylcarbonyl)

Polyurethanes are another family of polymers. Their uses include foam seats (for cars and furniture), latex-free condoms, shoe soles, soccer ball coverings, wheels for skateboards and rollerblades, and some varnishes, in packaging and strips of ready meals. They were discovered in 1937. These polymers can be degraded by water, light, and also some types of mushrooms!

BACK

POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET)

poly(oxyethyleneoxyterephthaloyl)

PET is a lightweight polymer and comes in different forms. It is commonly used for plastic beverage bottles, as well as for clothing fibers (where it is often referred to as "polyester"). In addition, it is used in the packaging and strips of ready meals. PET was discovered in 1941, and recently it was found that it could be degraded by the Nocardia bacteria!

BACK

POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC)

poly(1-chloroethylene)

PVC comes in rigid and flexible forms. In its rigid form, it can be used for windows, door frames and bank cards. By adding plasticizers, it is possible to obtain a more flexible form, used for the insulation of electrical cables and as a substitute for rubber. PVC has been around since 1872, and can be recycled up to 7 times.

BACK

POLYTETRAFLUOROETHANE (PTFE)

poly(difluoromethylene)

The best known PTFE is Teflon®. This very low reactive polymer is used in non-stick coatings on cookware. ‘Gore-Tex®’ fabrics also contain PTFE-based fibers. It also has applications as a lubricant and insulator for electrical wires and cables. PTFE was discovered in 1938, it can be degraded with high temperatures, but produces harmful chemicals.

BACK

NITRILE RUBBER (NBR)

poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene)

This material is a copolymer also known as NITRILE RUBBER. It is an elastomer used to make medical gloves, gaskets, cable sheathing, synthetic leather, etc. This polymer is very resistant to fuels and was first synthesized in 1931.

BACK

POLYCARBONATE (PC)

polycarbonate

Polycarbonates are a group of thermoplastic polymers containing carbonate groups in their chemical structure. Polycarbonates are strong and tough materials, and some types are optically transparent. They are easy to work with, mould and shape when heated. These pastics were discovered in 1898 and are recyclable.

BACK

NEOPRENE (CR)

polychloroprene

Commonly known as NEOPRENE, this family of polymers is the first example of a synthetic rubber. It is highly resistant to ozone, hydrocarbons, and salt water. It guarantees good thermal resistance, so it is widely used in the manufacture of water sports equipment, although it is not 100% waterproof. It was developed in 1930, and represents 3 % of the synthetic rubber market.

BACK

POLY(STYRENE-co-BUTADIENE (SBR)

poly(but-1-ene-1,4-diyl)-co-(1-phenylethylene)

This material is a copolymer also known as STYRENE-BUTADIENE RUBBER (SBR). The most common synthetic rubber. Used in tire manufacture, for gaskets, shoe soles, tubing etc. Its crosslinked structure makes it un-meltable and therefore impossible for classical recycling. SBR was first synthesized in 1929.

BACK

POLYMETHYLMETHACRYLATE (PMMA)

Poly(methyl 2-methylpropenoate)

PMMA is a transparent, strong and light thermoplastic polymer. Its best known commercial name is Plexiglass®. It has been used to manufacture lenses, safety glass and windscreens. Their use was first patented in 1933, this polymer is biocompatible and can be degraded by cyanobacteria!

BACK

POLY(cis-1,4-isoprene) (NR)

poly(2-methylbut-1-ene-1,4-diyl)

The second most used rubber, it can be made synthetically but is is more economical to collect it from latex trees. Its properties can be improved by sulfur-vulcanization for use in the manufacture of tires, gaskets, tubing, gloves. Its crosslinked structure makes it difficult to recycle, however it is biodegradable. This natural polymer has been in use since the 1500´s.

BACK

Phenol-formaldehyde resins

irregular polymer

Phenol-formaldehyde resins, known as Bakelites are a typical example of reactoplastics, materials with high chemical and thermal resistance. Used for electrotechnical applications or parts exposed to high temperatures. Classical recycling is impossible due to densely crosslinked structure. Discovered in 1906, they are the first synthetic plastic!

BACK

POLY(L-LACTID ACID) (PLA)

poly[oxy(1-methyl-2-oxoethylene)]

PLA is the most important bio-based synthetic plastic but is currently produced in very limited amounts (~ 0.1 % of plastics) from corn starch. It is suitable for 3D printing filaments, but due to high cost and material and processing limitations, its used only in small scale for packaging and textiles. It is difficult to recycle due to low thermal stability. It can be biodegradable but needs industrial compost to decompose in reasonable times.

END

BACK

Home

We hope you found this useful!

To view the downloadable version of the poster, and for more information on polymers, plastics and other PPE equipment, visit our project website at: https://iupac.org/project/2021-012-2-400/

@IUPACPolymer